Railway workers start indefinite strike

The Korea Railway Workers` Union today starts an indefinite strike in protest of the Korea Railroad Corporation`s cancellation of the collective agreement with the KRWU.

"When the negotiations were still underway, KORAIL annulled the agreement unilaterally. This behavior is considered a total rejection of the trade union, resulting in our strike," said Kim Ki-tae, head of the KRWU, at a press conference yesterday.

The union and management had held talks on the labor collective agreement until Tuesday. However, they could not narrow their differences over the reinstatement of fired workers and the company ended negotiations unilaterally.



"We already agreed to discuss the issue of fired workers last December. And the company demanded the revision of 120 clauses within the 170-clause agreement. That is the main reason for the current catastrophe," Kim added.

"We apologize to citizens for causing concerns. In order to minimize people`s inconveniences, we will do our essential jobs in accordance with the trade union law even during the walkout," said Kim, who represents 25,000 union members.

Starting with nationwide assemblies early in the morning, the group`s 16,000 member workers, excluding essential staff for railway maintenance, are to join the general strike.

Over the union`s decision, KORAIL CEO Huh Joon-young warned of strict punishment including compensation for damages from all participants in the strike.

"The public will never accept the strike aimed at achieving unfair and unreasonable requirements," Huh said, criticizing the 60-year-old labor collective agreement.

Huh, a former national police chief, said a total of 61 employees are working as full-time union officials at the rail workers` union. The number is three times more than the 20 found in other public companies, he said.

"I don`t understand the unreasonable practice of about 3 billion won being spent every year for the wages of full-time union officials. Faulty practices and systems should be improved," Huh said.

(jylee@heraldm.com)



By Lee Ji-yoon